July 6, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
LINDIWE Ntombela is ecstatic. The mobile Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market (JFPM) in Diepsloot means the elderly woman, an informal trader in the sprawling township, no longer needs to make the long journey to City Deep to buy fresh fruit and vegetables to sell.
The mobile market is part of the JFPM's strategy to bring fresh produce closer to communities, create jobs and develop small businesses.
The mobile market arrives in Diepsloot
Patrick Tlhagwane, the facilities manager at the Soweto Wholesale Market, says the mobile market, a 26-wheeler truck, has been a blessing for many people.
Bernard Magabe, the JFPM's chief executive, came up with the idea "after we discovered that the market at City Deep was too far from people who most needed our services", Tlhagwane says.
"After consultative meetings with the hawkers, we reached an agreement that we bring the fresh produce market closer to the people."
Hawkers
A hawkers' organisation representing Diepsloot informal traders had also decided to table the plight of informal traders operating in Diepsloot.
Thembinkosi Bethwell Nomavuka, a community leader and co-ordinator of the project, says hawkers in the township had sent a delegation to the JFPM and a decision was taken to establish a market in Diepsloot.
"The fresh produce market then sent representatives to assess the feasibility of establishing such a market and a tentative site in Extension 5 was identified where a permanent structure could be set up," Nomavuka says.
"In the meantime, before the setting up of the structure, we decided that a mobile market would suffice."
Tlhagwane says the permanent structure, which will be similar to the Soweto Market, will be established in the "near future". After it is complete, the structure will be transferred to the community as part of the JFPM's drive to empower people.
Diepsloot Ext 5
The mobile market started operating in February, heading out early in the morning from the JFPM on Tuesdays and doing a final round on Fridays to replenishing the hawkers' commodities for the weekend.
It is operated by a staff of five off-loaders and a cashier.
Diepsloot Extension 5 is the first port of call for the huge truck, brimful of boxes of vegetables and crates of fruit. As in City Deep and the Soweto Market, there is lots of commotion as traders jostle each other to get the freshest stuff.
Some people push wheelbarrows laden with boxes and crates; those without transport carry the heavy loads balanced precariously on their heads.
Eric Mthembu, from the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, whose role is to "develop small business" in Diepsloot, also chips in. He uses a van to help those needing transport from the mobile market to their homes.
"The truck cannot cover each and every street of Diepsloot so I deliver for people who live in other extensions. People place orders with me and I deliver to them," he says.
Diepsloot Ext 2
Ntombela is one of Mthembu's customers. She lives in Extension 2 and has been selling vegetables and fruit in Diepsloot since 2000.
"The arrival of the truck has been a complete blessing for some of us. We used to cough up R60 to R100 for transport to City Deep and Pretoria to buy stock and this eroded our profits drastically. But now I can make a comfortable profit of R40 a day."
According to Nomavuka, the plans for a permanent structure in Diepsloot were made on the understanding that the local community benefits from the market.
"We want to see a situation where local people with vans and trucks will be awarded tenders to deliver all over Diepsloot. At the moment, Mthembu is lending a helping hand with his truck, which is proving very helpful."
He says the market is a hit with most residents, although some individuals are not happy about it. Those individuals who sell vegetables and fruit from smaller vans claim the truck is taking away their businesses.
Increasing business
"Despite these glitches, the number of clients has been increasing by the day and there is demand for another truck because the current [one] cannot cope with the demand," Nomavuka adds.
The Diepsloot hawkers took the initiative and identified spots where the truck should be based, he says.
At exactly 8.30am the trucks stops off in Diepsloot Extension 5, where it remains until noon. From there it is on to Extension 1, where it arrives by 12.15pm. The last stop is Extension 7, around 3pm.
Nomavuka says these three spots cater for the whole population of Diepsloot.
In the meantime, Ntombela has enrolled for a course in basic business skills. She hopes to graduate in August, with an informal trader certificate.
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